By Miriam Raftery

October 29, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Multiple candidates in the Grossmont Union High School District Board race have complained of mailers containing false or misleading information on candidates' party endorsements or affiliations.

Below is information on which parties have endorsed candidates in the race,  as well as which candidates have teachers' union backing and which seem to be running stealth campaigns--offering little or no information for voters.

November 4, 2016 - This week’s Destination East County include live music at La Mesa’s newest wine tasting room, a fall Planstravaganza, the Ramona Art and Wine Festival, and the opening of trout fishing season in Santee.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including a holiday open house at Summers Past Farms, a  Paint-a-Holic program in La Mesa,  a Veterans Day commemoration in El Cajon, the Casa de Oro Fall Festival,  the Mother Goose Parade, holiday concerts at Parkway Plaza and more.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

East County News Service

November 1, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Zika shrinks mice testicles, damaging fertility (CNN)
• Exclusive: EpiPen price hikes add millions to Pentagon costs(Reuters)
• An Alternative To The EpiPen Is Coming Back To Drugstores (NPR)
• A hormone injection for men has been shown to be 96% effective as contraception.(BBC)
• Can Poverty Lead To Mental Illness? (NPR)
• 'Super-parenting' improves children's autism (BBC)\   

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Report Declares Global Wildlife Populations Are Plunging. But It's Complicated(NPR)
• China's Xiongmai to recall up to 10,000 webcams after U.S. hack (Reuters)
• It Ain't Me, Babe: Researchers Find Flaws In Police Facial Recognition Technology(NPR)
• Apple finds security flaw in its operating system (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• NASA's New 'Intruder Alert' System Spots An Incoming Asteroid (NPR)
• FCC Vote Means Internet Providers Need Permission To Share Your Data (NPR)
• Flaws in connected cameras, recorders broader than bad passwords(CS Monitor)
• Nations Agree To Establish World's Largest Marine Reserve In Antarctica (NPR)
• Sweden bans cameras on drones(BBC)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

East County News Service

Source:  City of El Cajon

October 31,2016 (El Cajon)--The El Cajon Police Department has been awarded a $170,000.00 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program of special enforcements and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic related deaths and injuries.  The El Cajon Police Department will use the funding as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to keep roadways safe and improve the quality of life through both enforcement and education, according to a release issued today.

“The El Cajon Police Department is looking forward to working with OTS, our partners in Law Enforcement, and our community stakeholders to reduce injury and death related to traffic collisions,” stated El Cajon Police Lieutenant Randy Soulard. “With an emphasis on the prevention of pedestrian and bicycle-related collisions, we will work collaboratively using a multi-pronged approach in addressing education and enforcement aspects of collision reduction.”

Additional DUI Patrols Scheduled For October 31

Source: San Diego Sheriff

October 31, 2016 ( San Diego)-- Sheriff's Deputies will be looking for drivers under the influence of alcohol this Halloween. On Monday, October 31st, deputies will be conducting additional DUI patrols in communities within the jurisdiction of the Sheriff's Department.

East County News Service

October 29, 2016 (San Diego) — A man who was treated for stab wounds told police he was attacked by four people wearing clown costumes shortly before 9 p.m. Friday night near San Diego State University

By Miriam Raftery

October 29, 2016 (El Cajon) — Cliff Diamond, former El Cajon Police Chief and past interim Chairman of the East County Chamber of Commerce, died October 25 in Sierra Vista, Arizona.  Diamond collapsed while on an RV vacation with his wife, Leslie and despite efforts by paramedics to revive him, was pronounced dead at a nearby medical facility.

By Miriam Raftery

October 29,2016 (Washington D.C.)—FBI Director James Comey has notified Congress that it is renewing its investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of e-mails on a private server.

The action comes after emails were found on a computer shared by top Clinton aide Huma  Abedin and her estranged husband,  ex-Congressman Anthony Wiener. Huma had used the computer to send e-mails to Clinton.  The computer was seized as part of an investigation into Wiener for allegedly sexting a teenage girl.  It is unclear whether any of the emails were sent by Clinton, or whether they are new or duplicates of e-mails already examined before an earlier probe was dismissed, or if any contained classified material.

Both Democratic and Congressional leaders have called on Comey and on Attorney General  Loretta Lynch to promptly provide further disclosure and clarity.

East County News Service

October 28, 2016 (Spring Valley) — The Federal Aviation Administration is hosting a meeting in Spring Valley Tuesday on a proposal to change flight paths to both Lindbergh Field and Brown Field airports, which could sharply increase airliner traffic over East County.  The meeting will be at La Presa Middle School, 1001 Leland Street, on November 1 from 6 to 9 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

October 28, 2016 (Santee) - Backers of city council and mayoral candidate in Santee are trading barbs over the use of fire trucks in campaign ads.

Van Collinsworth questions why the Santee Firefighter’s Association has been posting signs supporting mayoral candidate John Minto and city council candidate Mason Herron atop a fire truck parked on public property at West Hills High School. In a letter sent to the current mayor and council, Collinsworth called the practice ”unethical.”

East County News Service

October 28, 2016 (El Cajon) -- The County of San Diego’s Community Action Partnership (CAP) in collaboration with Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) and El Cajon Collaborative want to hear from you about the most important issues in your community. An El Cajon Community Needs forum will be held November 15 from 5-7 p.m. at the El Cajon Salvation Army, 1011 East Main Street.

Attorney for white nationalist group developed computer program to drop minority voters off voting rosters in 30 states

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left:  Miriam Raftery with Greg Palast at film debut in San Diego

Listen now to our interview with Greg Palast, originally aired on KNSJ:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

Scroll down for highlights.

October 28, 2016 (San Diego)--Investigative reporter Greg Palast’s Academy Award-nominated documentary, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy:  A Tale of Billionaires and Ballot Bandits, pulls back the curtain to expose a dark conspiracy to steal votes from millions of minorities across America. A seasoned gumshoe detective turned award-winning investigative reporter, Palast leaves no room for doubt as he masterfully reveals the powerful players behind this insidious scheme.

East  County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery sat down for an exclusive interview with Palast,  in town for the debut of his film in San Diego on Monday.  You can hear our interview by clicking the orange audio link,  and scroll down to  read our review of this must-see documentary.